Today we celebrate 15th years since FINAL FANTASY XI first opened its doors. When I think of what fifteen years mean, I picture watching your newborn child getting their learners' permit. Like all long paths, there have been a few bumps along the way, but we have been able to continue for the past decade and a half thanks to your steadfast support and dedicated. Words are not enough to express my gratitude.

Fifteen years.I hope that the time you have spent in Vana'diel has been filled with wonderful experiences and memories. We're working harder than ever to continue to provide fresh experiences so that all adventurers will be able to enjoy even more exciting times into the future.

This post is accompanied by other announcements of various events and campaigns starting on Tuesday, May 16.

In the 15th Anniversary The One I Can Trust Campaign, we're trying our hands at something the likes of which you've never seen; as part of this event, we'll be asking you to decide upon a new alter ego that you'd like to bring with you on your adventures throughout Vana'diel. I've always been partial to Aphmau, so I plan on spending the year with her by my side.

The My Little Shadow Lord Campaign lets adventurers get their hands on a replica of the Shadow Lord to "watch over" their mog house—a perfect opportunity for the beastmen lovers among you!

We're also holding the Return Home to Vana'diel and Discount Campaigns this year. If any of your friends are curious as to what Vana'diel looks like in 2017, now's the perfect time to bring them back! Memories are all the sweeter when you have friends to share them with!

But the events don't stop there. We're also preparing 15th anniversary Records of Eminence objectives and Vana'diel Day events, the details of which will be made available on the official forums in just a few short days. We're planning on going back to basics, and discussions in meetings about these events have often centered on nostalgia for the original release of FINAL FANTASY XI.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the FINAL FANTASY series. We can't let so momentous an occasion pass us by, so we've also prepared some equipment that fans of the series will surely recognize. There are a variety of ways of getting your hands on them, and we hope you find one that best suits your needs.

At risk of letting my message to you all get to long, let me finally express my satisfaction at the amount of content we've been able to bring you. The development team shrunk in the last year, and although we were aware that we wouldn't be able to make any major content additions, we were able to implement both Ambuscade and Omen, and, if I may be so bold, we are very proud of the work we have done. In this, the 15th year of FINAL FANTASY XI, we remain ever committed bringing you a variety of battle content and more within the coming twelve months.

The development and operations team will continue to work as hard as ever so that those new to Vana'diel can experience all that has to offer and that veterans will be able to enjoy each new day of adventures more than the last. Here's to fifteen years of Vana'diel, and to fifteen more!